New Book Examines The 6 Marks of Progressive Christian Worship Music

The number of traditional Protestant congregations using "contemporary" music in their worship services has exploded in recent decades. Despite the reasons why congregations have decided to bring more modern music into their worship services, there is often an awkward conversation that eventually takes place between pastors in these churches and the musicians who participate in the praise and worship bands. The pastors often struggle with the theology and language of this "contemporary Christian music."

In Bryan Sirchio's latest work, "The 6 Marks of Progressive Christian Worship Music," he explains what Progressive Christian Worship Music is, why it is needed, and where it can be found. Sirchio lays out six marks by which a church can determine whether or not a song fits this new genre and why. The six marks are meant to be a guide to help shift the focus of conversation from what traditional or "mainline" church leaders (who tend to be more theologically progressive) often don't like about contemporary worship music, to what kind of new worship music they are longing to find and bring into their churches. Sirchio hopes that worship musicians and pastors can read the book as a team and deepen their understanding of what they need to be doing together through the songs they sing in worship.

"After all these years, one thing I know is that there is a profound hunger in many traditional churches for some fresh ways of worshipping God through new music, lyrics, and liturgies that fit who we are as "mainline Christians." This book is my attempt to help describe and define what I think this new music can, and perhaps even should be about," says Sirchio. "If you've got a pastor who cares deeply enough about the lyrics of the songs you sing in worship to insist that they have integrity and that they reflect the best of your tradition and your own congregation's understanding of the Gospel, then you are profoundly blessed."